Vibratory earth engaging shank

ABSTRACT

An earth engaging shank carried by a tractor for displacement of earthen material upon movement of the shank therethrough. A roller is embodied within the lower portion of the blade remote from the shank attachment to the tractor, to impart vibratory motion to said lower portion of the shank to facilitate passage through the earthen material. Air or hydraulic fluid under pressure powers the roller.

221 Filed:

United States Patent Kinnan 1 [54] VIBRATORY EARTH ENGAGING SHANK [72]Inventor: Frank R. Kinnan, Route 1, R0. Box

445, Camas Valley, Oreg. 97416 Nov. 25, 1970 21 Appl. No.1 92,724

521 1J.s.c1.. ..172/40,37/o1o. 18 511 161.131. ..A0lb 35/00 [58] Field61 Search 172/40; 37/1310. 18, 193; 173/49; 299/14; 6l/72.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,231,025 1/1966 Bodine..172/40 3,538,713 11/1970 Killoren ..61/72.6, 3,608,322 9/1971 Kinnanet al ..172/40 x 3,528,302 9/1970 Kinnan ..173/49 x 3,189,536 6/1965 151 Oct. 17, 1972 3,295,837 1/1967 Bodine, Jr ..173/49 X FOREIGN PATENTS0R APPLICATIONS 1,189,602 3/1965 Germany 1 72/40 894,485 3/1944 France..l72/40 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-CliffordD. Crowder Attorney-James D. Givnan, Jr.

[ 57 ABSTRACT An earth engaging shank carried by a tractor fordisplacement of earthen material upon movement of the shanktherethrough. A roller is embodied within the lower portion of the bladeremote from the shank attachment to the tractor, to impart vibratorymotion to said lower portion of the shank to facilitate passage throughthe earthen material. Air or hydraulic fluid under pressure powers theroller. I

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures VIBRATORY EARTH ENGAGING SIIAN K BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates-generally to earthnecessary to draw said blade through the ground surface. It is widelyaccepted that vibration of such ground engaging blades facilitates bladepassage by reason of the fact that the earthen particles immediatelyforward of the blade are put into fluid motion prior and during bladepassage. Further, in most common applications, the greater the amplitudeand higher the frequency imparted to the blade or shank, the greater thereduction in motive force required to draw the blade through the ground.Stated in another way for a given tooth size and tooth penetration lessdraw bar pull will be required permitting more efficient working of thetool. While it is accordingly advantageous to apply substantialvibratory forces to the blade or shank a primary limitation to impartingsuch forces is the degree of vibration trans mitted through the bladeattachment to associated tractor equipment. Since all such bladesobviously must be securely affixed to the prime mover for transmittingthe necessary horizontal thrust to the blade vibratory movement of theblade is also transmitted through the blade attachment fittings andultimately to the prime mover which is highly undesirable.

ln ripping of rocky ground where blade or shank impact is high, wherethe use of a vibrator is highly desirable, such use is restricted byreason of vibratory motion ultimately telegraphing back to the toothcarrying vehicle. Effects of prolonged vibration suffered by heavyequipment operators also restrict the use of vibrated shanks. i

While efforts have been made to isolate the vibratory instrument fromits supporting vehicle these :for the most part have been unsatisfactoryfor the reason that the resilient means utilized between the tooth andthe vehicle is subject to rapid deterioration. In view of the verysubstantial loads imparted to 'such earth working tools isolating of thevibratory tooth from the vehicle has not been achieved in a practicalmanner and hence plication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is embodied within avibratory earth engaging tooth wherein an orbiting roller is housed inthe tooth remote from the vehicle attachment point in the earth engagingportion of the tooth. The roller is of a size to be housed within thetooth without increasing the sectional dimension of the tooth. The toothwidth does not exceed the width of standard, non-vibrating teeth.Pressurized fluid delivery is provided along the shank to drive theroller.

The roller does not require servicing and hence the same may be housedin a permanent manner within the roller may be confinedlaterally byremovably mounted plates to allow access for purposes of rollersubstitution the use of vibrating tooths or shanks has had limited aptopermit adapting of the shank ortooth to the specific job at hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional'viewtakenjalong line 2' 3-3 ofFIG. 2, I

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofthe roller element removed from theshank,

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a cable plowassembly shown removedfrom its prime mover and showing an earth engaging shank embodying thepresent invention, and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modification havingexternal fluid conduits on. the shank.

DESCRIPTION or PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continuing reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals indicate partssimilarly identified in the following specification, the referencenumeral 11 indicates a tractor equipped in the conventionalmanner withhydraulic means at 12 coupled at its rod end at 13 to a rearwardlytrailing arm 14 which in turn is pivotally attached at 15 to the tractorframe. The arm 14 terminates rearwardly in a box beam arrangement 16along which the following described structure may be laterallypositioned to suit the job at hand. A tooth holder bracketl7 is attachedat its forward end to receive a pin member 18 securing the holderframework to the box beam 16. The foregoing structure comprises no partof the present invention and is deemed typical of means for mounting anearth engaging tooth on a prime mover.

The reference numeral 10 indicates an earth engaging shank in the natureof a ripper tooth positionably carried by the prime mover 11 shown as atrack equipped tractor. Pins 20 and 21 extend transversely through theshank to mount same in a secure manner.

within the bracket 17. V

Extending longitudinally of the shank 10 is a bore 22 terminatingupwardly in communication with a hose coupling at 24 to which in turn alength of hose indicated at 25 is attached. The unseen end of hose 25 isin communication with an air compressor for powering the present form ofthe invention. A second bore at 23 terminates upwardly in a fitting 26serving to attach a segment of conduit 27 the latter constituting afluid exhaust member. I

With reference to FIG. 3 the lower end of the bores 22 and 23 terminatein communication with an internal area 28 defined by an annular wall 30,the axis of said wall being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe blade. As shown, the internal area 28 is located adjacent the lowerend of the shank 10 and accordingly remotely spaced below the attachmentmeans 17 and pins 20 and 2-1 for the tooth. With attention again to FIG.3, a roller at 31 has an external circumferential surface 32 of anoutside diameter somewhat less than the annular wall 30 formed in shank10. Accordingly, roller 3l is mounted for eccentric travel in a planeparallel to the longitudinal axis of shank 10.

Inset areas at' 33 are provided on both sidewalls of the shank withinwhich areas removable cover plates at 34 are mounted. Suitable sealingmeans are provided intermediate the plates 34 and the inset surfaces 33.I

The roller 31 may have a continuous outer annular surface or be providedwith a circumferentially extending groove, as at 31A in FIGS. 3 and 4,providing increased frictional area for impinging fluid with said grooveproviding for a continuous flow about the roller 31. Accordingly theconstant circular flow of fluid about roller 31 drives the roller aboutannular wall 30. The orbiting axis of roller 31 moves about the axis ofthe annular wall 30. The exhaust flow of pressurized fluid is dischargedfrom the upper end of bore 23 to the atmosphere in FIG. 1 where the unitis shown pneumatically powered. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 6, whereinthe roller is described as hydraulically powered a reservoir return lineis provided. While not shown it will be obvious that air supply linewill be in circuit with suitable controls for regulating the air flowfrom a source to the tooth 10. The frequency as well as the forceexerted by the roller against the annular wall is directly proportionalto the flow of air through inlet bore 22.

With attention to FIG. 5 the cable plow assembly as indicated generallyat 35 includes a shank 36 mounted atits upper end within a bracket 37.As is conventional with cable plow assemblies the shank and its bracket37 are mounted for swinging movement about the upright axis of a pivotpin 38. Cable plow assemblies are carried by a positionable member 40which in turn is typically carried by the prime mover not shown.Trailing rearwardly from the cable plow tooth is an elongate cable shoe41 through which the cable C, being laid, passes for ultimate placementwithin the ground kerf cut by the tooth 36. Such cable shoes are in mostcases hingedly carried by the cable plow tooth.

As in the first described form of the invention the structure externallyattached to the tooth forms no part of the present invention.

In similarity to the first described form of the invention a roller at42 is housed within the lower ground engaging portion of blade 36 fororbital movement about an annular wall 43. In view of the similaritywith the first described form of the invention a further description isnot believed necessary. Bores at 44 and 45 in FIG. 6 provide apassageway for the flow of pressurized fluid from a conduit 48 to roller42 and for discharge of the fluid to a return line 49. Line 49, in turn,returns the fluid to a hydraulic fluid reservoir on the prime mover.

Cover plates as at 46 enclose the roller 42 and the opening defined byannular wall 43.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 6 wherein a pair of externallymounted rigid conduits 50 and 51 are affixed to the trailing edge 52A ofa blade 52. A roller 53 is powered by an airflow entering via an inlet54 and exhausting via outlet 55. Cover plates as at 56 close the rollerreceiving opening in the blade. The upper ends of the conduits 50 and 51terminate in retained attachment to blade 52 and thereat receive supplyhoses similar to those indicated at 48 and 49. Alternatively, of course,the exhaust conduit for an air driven roller may exhaust to theatmosphere as shown in FIG. 1.

The term fluid as used herein encompasses both hydraulic fluid and airapplied to the roller in the different forms of the invention.

While I have shown various embodiments of the invention it will beapparent to those skilled in the present art that the invention may beembodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention what I desire to secure under aLetters Patent is:

l. A vibratory earth engaging shank carried in an upright position by aprime mover with a lower portion of the shank extending below the groundsurface for forming a narrow kerf therein for the subsequent deposit ofan electrical conduit, said shank having fluid carrying passagewaysextending therealong with one of said passageways adapted to receive apressurized fluid flow from a source carried by the prime mover, anannular wall formed within and adjacent the lower end of the shank, saidpassageways terminating in tangential openings in said wall incommunication with a space defined by the wall, a roller of a lesserwidth than that of the shank disposed for orbital rolling engagementabout said annular wall in response to a pressurized fluid flow beingdischarged through one of said tangential openings to impart vibratorymotion to the lower end of the shank along vectors coplanar with theshanks major axis advantageously remote from the attachment point of theshank to the prime mover thereby lessening the transfer of vibratorymotion to the latter during a kerf forming operation, inset areas alsoformed within said ground engaging portion of the shank adjacent thewall defining portion of the shank, closure plates removably mountedwith said inset areas having their outer surfaces substantially coplanarwith the shank sidewalls with said plates permitting access to saidroller for servicing or replacement of same with a roller impartingdifferent vibratory characteristics to the shank.

2. The vibratory earth engaging shank as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidpassageways are embodied within conduits extending exteriorly alongthe'trailing edge of the shank.

1. A vibratory earth engaging shank carried in an upright position by aprime mover with a lower portion of the shank extending below the groundsurface for forming a narrow kerf therein for the subsequent deposit ofan electrical conduit, said shank having fluid carrying passagewaysextending therealong with one of said passageways adapted to receive apressurized fluid flow from a source carried by the prime mover, anannular wall formed within and adjacent the lower end of the shank, saidpassageways terminating in tangential openings in said wall incommunication with a space defined by the wall, a roller of a lesserwidth than that of the shank disposed for orbital rolling engagementabout said annular wall in response to a pressurized fluid flow beingdischarged through one of said tangential openings to impart vibratorymotion to the lower end of the shank along vectors coplanar with theshanks major axis advantageously remote from the attachment point of theshank to the prime mover thereby lessening the transfer of vibratorymotion to the latter during a kerf forming operation, inset areas alsoformed within said ground engaging portion of the shank adjacent thewall defining portion of the shank, closure plates removably mountedwith said inset areas having their outer surfaces substantially coplanarwith the shank sidewalls with said plates permitting access to saidroller for servicing or replacement of same with a roller impartingdifferent vibratory characteristics to the shank.
 2. The vibratory earthengaging shank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said passageways areembodied within conduits extending exteriorly along the trailing edge ofthe shank.